NBA

NBA Playoffs 2019: Joel Embiid earns Player of the Night

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The 2019 NBA Playoffs are heating up!

Every day from now until the end of the postseason, our NBA.com Staff will bring you one top performer following the completion of the playoff games on that day.

You'll be able to see the best performance and three honourable mentions from each day, while also having access to all prior "Player of the Night" files, as we see who can tally the most honours these playoffs.

Today's player of the day is...

Joel Embiid

Team's result: Sixers 112, Nets 108 (Sixers lead series 3-1)

Stat line: 31 points (12-22 FG, 1-3 3PT, 6-6 FT), 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 blocks and 2 steals

Embiid returned today after missing Game 3 and was nothing short of dominant in his 31 minutes of action, scoring 31 points and leading the Sixers home in a nail-biting finish. 

The big man scored 12 of his 31 in the fourth quarter and imposed himself on both ends, recording a game-high 6 blocks.

Honourable Mentions:

Nikola Jokic

Team's result: Nuggets 117, Spurs 103 (Series tied at 2-2)

Stat line: 29 points (10-22 FG, 1-4 3PT, 8-8 FT), 12 rebounds, 8 assists

Jokic recorded a playoff career-high 29 points, playing with a renewed aggression that the Nuggets desperately needed on the offensive end and impressively the big man had zero turnovers on the night.

Through his first four playoff games, he's joined some elite company:

Donovan Mitchell

Team's result: Rockets 104, Jazz 101 (Rockets lead series 3-0) 

Stat line: 34 points (9-27 FG, 4-12 3PT, 12-17 FT), 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals

It wasn't a great shooting night for the second-year man, but Donovan Mitchell was the bulk of the Jazz's offence, driving his way into the paint, weaving through the Rockets defence and trying to make things happen all night.

He was much-improved in Game 3 after two sluggish performances on the road in Houston, but he didn't have much help on the night as the Jazz now sit one game away from elimination.


Blake Griffin

Team's result: Bucks 119, Pistons, 103 (Bucks lead series 3-0) 

Stat line: 27 points (10-24 FG, 2-7 3PT, 5-5 FT), 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals

In his first game back from a right knee injury, Griffin put in a gutsy performance against the high-flying Bucks.

Despite his best efforts, he didn't get much help on the night and was the lone bright spot in an otherwise rough night for Detroit.

Previous winners

April 13 - Stephen Curry

April 14 - Giannis Antetokounmpo

April 15 - Lou Williams

April 16 - Kawhi Leonard

April 17 - James Harden

April 18 - Ben Simmons

April 19 - Russell Westbrook

Author(s)
Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.